When it comes to proper horse equipment, there’s no denying that the halter stands out as a quite important item. This is a tool designed to help hold, lead and tie your horse. In other words – easily control. One specific type that trumps all others is the leather halter.
Reasons Why Leather Halters Stand Out
First of all, appearance. Leather halters have a clean, crisp look that gives off an enviable, polished overall impression. That is why these are especially great for shows too. A leather horses halter can come with triple stitching, brass or nickel hardware and rolled throat straps. Plus, you can find various shades of leather, from light tan to completely black ones. Some models come with coloured leather piping or padding which can add some extra touch to the final look.
Next comes durability. When properly maintained, a high-quality leather horses halter can last a long time. Compared to other types, taking care of leather halters is not that complicated. An occasional wipe down, proper oiling and regular check ups for wear or damages is basically everything you need to do. Instead of oil, you can also use saddle soaps or leather cleaner. Be careful with the oil – too much of it can make the leather sticky and in time it may lose its strength. And lastly, what makes leather halters differ from other types is that the horse can easily “break away” if an urgent need arises. If the horse gets alarmed for some reason, the leather halter will give under the pressure and free the horse, whereas nylon or rope halters will keep the horse trapped.
A Few Tips on How to Properly Place Leather Halters
Generally speaking, placing a horses halter is quite easy, especially if the horse is well mannered and properly trained. This means that the horse must allow a person to approach it (most often from the left side), and then place the halter. You are advised to carry the halter in your left hand and leave it unbuckled and unsnapped.
Once you catch the horse, you should hold it with your right hand, and slip the halter over the horse’s nose with your left hand and then tighten it using both hands. For horses that are more difficult to catch, you can use a lead shank and place it around the neck of the animal. After you place the halter, you need to properly adjust it. This normally entails adjusting the length of the crownpiece of the halter. This adjustment depends on the position of the noseband (it should fall around two inches below the bony point of the cheek).
